Kibria Killing

Date for further probe deferred for 35th time

5 July 2010, 18:00 PM

STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Sylhet

Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge of Sylhet yesterday deferred the date for submitting report of the "further investigation" in Kibria killing case to July 12. The date was fixed for the day as special public prosecutor Kishore Kumar Kar prayed time extension stating that the CID could not finish its job and it need more time, court sources said. The date for "further investigation" has been deferred for the 35th time. CID failed to submit the "further investigation report" in the last 40 months. The then investigation officer (IO) of the case senior ASP of CID Munshi Atiqur Rahman in a petition informed the court about necessity of "further investigation" on March 7, 2007. Munshi went on retirement after a few months and ASP Md Rafiqul Islam was given the job. Former finance minister SAMS Kibria, his nephew advocate Shah Manzurul Huda, local Awami League leaders Abdur Rahim, Abul Hossain and Siddique Ali were killed in a grenade attack on a public meeting at Baidderbazar of Habiganj sadar upazila at the night of January 27, 2005. IO Munshi Atique submitted charge sheet against ten persons in the case on March 20, 2005. Of the accused, eight have been arrested while two went into hiding. Of them, after spending three years in jail, Habiganj district unit BNP vice-president Abdul Quaiyum came out on bail and claimed him and others innocent. Later, CID started further investigation. On March 8 this year, Rab held alleged Huji operative Mizanur Rahman Mithu, who gave confessional statement before judicial magistrate in Habiganj following the day. CID then remanded the former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in connection with the case. CID ASP Rafiqul Islam, IO of the case, told the Daily Star that they need more time to submit supplementary charge sheet as "further investigation" is still going on. He claimed that the job would complete soon.